Ekaterinburg, Russia - It takes something to go rounds with WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev. Only two fighters were able to accomplish a greater feat - to last a distance with the destructive power of the Krusher. Darnell Boone did it in October 2010 but then was vaporized in a rematch. Karen Avetisyan was never stopped by Kovalev, going six rounds to lose a heated unanimous decision two months after that.

Avetisyan showed his durability once again in a ten-round battle with Dmitry "Southern" Mikhailenko. Amazingly, this fight, which was a main event of the show promoted in Ekaterinburg by German Titov Boxing Promotions, was held at the welterweight limit, five divisions to the south of 175lb. Both combatants were pumped and ready but it was Mikhailenko, who was more aggressive of the two. Digging deep he targeted Avetisyan's body from round one to prevent him from breathing properly. Avaetisyan accepted the challenge and went toe-to-toe with the dangerous opponent. Both boxers were concentrated solely on destruction, rumbling hard in close quarters.

Mikhailenko's domination only began to be felt in the closing three rounds. He hurt Avetisyan with a major right hand at the end of the eighth, then almost repeated this trick one round after that. Both boxers gave their all in the closing tenth round but the Russian was closer to stop the proud Armenian than otherwise. At the end, all three judges, saw it in favor of still-to-be-defeated Mikhailenko (16-0, 6 KOs), while Avetisyan suffers another setback and goes down to 8-7-1, with 4 KOs. BoxingScene had it 97-93 - for the Russian fighter.

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Russian super featherweight champion Evgueny Chuprakov (8-0, 3 KOs) scored a workmanlike unanimous decision over six rounds against Tajik Ilyos Qayumov (2-1, 2 KOs). Chuprakov, not a big hitter but definitely a skillful boxer, danced his way out of trouble, circling around aggressive but limited Qayumov and hitting him with the jab at will. No scores were announced but BoxingScene had it 59-55 - for Chuprakov.

Russian light middleweight Denis Pogodin (1-0, 1 KO) debuted with a one-sided blowout of Cameroonian Charlan Takam (0-1), a not-so-close relative of heavyweight Carlos Takam. Pogodin kept Takam at bay, using his hard jab. Takam was unable to find his range and ate more shots, while trying to fire off something of his own. Fifty-four seconds into round two Takam was hit with two huge right hands, turned his back on Pogodin, and the fight was immediately stopped for good.

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Belarussian featherweight Andrey Isaev (25-4, 7 KOs), best known for his close losses to world-rated opponent Kamil Laszczyk, Oleg Yefimovich and Rendall Munroe, got a spirited unanimous decision over hard-nosed former kickboxer Fazliddin Ismonov (0-2) from Tajikistan. Isaev outboxed Usmonov and cut his nose though the Tajik fighter was always game and determined. There were no knockdowns in the six-rounder. BoxingScene had it 59-56 - also for Isaev.

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In a fight between two light heavyweight debutants Russian Andrey Sirotkin (1-0) got the better of Azerbaijani Vasil Mamedov (0-1) over four rounds with a unanimous decision. Sirotkin was better than his opponent, being more active and sharper of the two. There were no knockdowns.

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Young cruiserweight gun Grigory Abramyan (2-0, 2 KOs) got his second career win with a convincing third-round TKO of experienced journeyman Vitaliy Chuklin (1-20-1). Chuklin unleashed his limited fury early on but Abramyan easily withstood the pressure. Then he gradually picked Chulkin apart with hard jabs and big right hands. The end came midst into the third after another one-two combo by Abramyan, which has visibly shaken his opponent. Referee waved the fight off seeing Chuklin was standing groggy.